Drac Wigo

Stardom Is Not A Surprise For This Northeast Senior, Who Comes From A Talented Gene Pool.

May 9, 2006|By Sharon Robb STAFF WRITER

It was Drac Wigo's turn to make a name for himself this season.

The Northeast senior managed to stand out on a team of great players, including twin brother Janson, that went through the season undefeated and won the state water polo championship for the second consecutive year.

The Stanford-bound Wigo was instrumental in the Hurricanes' success, particularly in postseason play, and helped to keep the Hurricanes' 50-game win streak alive. He led the team with 67 goals, 34 steals and 32 assists.

His uncanny instinct and anticipation made him a cut above the rest during the high school water polo season.

"It's going to be a while before you see another player like Drac Wigo in Broward County," Northeast veteran coach Loren Price said.

For his outstanding season, Wigo, 18, is the South Florida Sun-Sentinel Boys' Water Polo Player of the Year. He follows in his brother's footsteps. Janson Wigo was last year's inaugural Player of the Year.

It's not hard to figure out why the twins are so good and work so well together in the water. Drac, also a state champion in swimming, comes from a talented gene pool.

His brother is three-time Olympian Wolf Wigo. His father, Bruce, is one of the sport's legends as former executive director of USA Water Polo and one of the coaches of the South Florida Water Polo Club, which turns out most of South Florida's top players. He is also president of the International Swimming Hall of Fame Museum.

Even though Drac grew up around water polo, the All-American had a choice of sports, he said. Athletic since an early age, he decided to get serious about water polo his freshman year.

Playing overseas in Hungary during the summer was a big confidence booster for Wigo's final high school season.

"You could tell how much he wanted another state title, and he came back stronger this year after playing club water polo tournaments over the summer," Price said. "He is just an amazing talent and has an incredible future ahead of him."